SATT

The Chief Student Affairs Officers Think Tank has focused, since its founding in 1988, on community standards and diversity. The group has also focused on issues germane to student affairs in sessions on restructuring, the impact of technology, the process of change, and future trends in higher education in the United States.

Individuals considering membership in the Student Affairs Think Tank have found it useful to review sample materials from previous meetings. Below you will find an agenda and readings from a Think Tank session held during the 2007-08 academic year:

Sample Agenda: “Diversity is here: Building institutional cultures of inquiry in a new era for higher education,” February 8, 2008
Sample Readings:

Bensimon, E.M. (January/February 2004). “The diversity scorecard.”
Change, 36 (1), 44-52.
Harris, S. (October 2006). “Six kinds of questions to create a culture of inquiry.” Principal Leadership, 7 (2), 27-31.
McIntosh, P. (Winter, 1990) “White Privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack.” Independent School.
Williams, D. (Fall 2006). “Overcoming the brutal facts: Building and implementing a relentless diversity change process.” Diversity Factor, 14 (4), 10-18.

Additional Resources

ASHE Higher Education. (2006). “Diversity, leadership and organizational culture in higher education.” Higher Education Report, 32 (3), 23-45.
Links issues of leadership with development of inclusive culture focused on diversity.
Bauman, G.L, Bustillos, L.T., & Bensimon, E.M. (September 2004). “Achieving equitable educational outcomes with all students: The institution’s roles and responsibilities.” Center for Urban Education, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California.
Addresses key indicators of race-based gap and ways that institutions can apply to their own campuses.
Bensimon, E.M. (Fall 2005). “Closing the achievement gap in higher education: An organizational learning perspective.” New Directions for Higher Education, 131, 99-111.
Uses organizational learning theory to address the structural barriers that preclude colleges from producing equitable outcomes for all students; case examples on how organizational learning can impact cognitive frames of decision making.
Bruch, P., Jehangir, R., Lundell, D. Higbee, J. & Miksch, K. (Spring 2005). “Communicating across differences: Towards a multicultural approach to institutional transformation.” Innovative Higher Education, 29 (3), 195-208.
Uses qualitative data to look at discourse issues related to diversity discussions.
Clements, E. (November 1999). “Creating a campus culture that truly values diversity.” About Campus, 4 (5), 23-26.
Highlights Middlesex CC’s small initiatives (vs. 1-2 large programs) that helped change the campus culture.
Howard- Hamilton, M. F., Phelps, R.E., & Torres, V. (Summer 1998). “Meeting the needs of all students and staff members: The challenge of diversity.” New Directions for Student Services, 82, 49-65.
Jack, Anthony (2007). “Don’t say id about me anymore. Learn the story behind the man.”
Pena, E.V., Bensimon, E.M., & Colyar, J. (Spring 2006). “Learning to think and act from the standpoint of equity.” Liberal Education, 92 (2), 48-52.
Highlights the importance of “equity mindedness” as the way in which cultures can shift and students of all ethnic backgrounds can be successful.

Discussion Topics for the 2007-08 Student Affairs Think Tanks:

“Evolving Policies and Practices for Serving Students with Disabilities”
“Civic Engagement and Social Capital: Does One Size Fit All? Implications for Higher Education”
“Diversity is here: Building Institutional Cultures of Inquiry in a New Era for Higher Education”
“New Technologies as an Asset in Student Affairs”
“Up, Moving Out: Career Pathways to the Presidency from Student Affairs”

Current Student Affairs Think Tank Members (2007-2008)

Past Student Affairs Think Tank Members:

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